My bathroom smells all lemony (Harpic Hygienic Toilet Block)

Member Name: SusanLesley

Product:	Harpic Hygienic Toilet Block
Date:	23/07/09 (223 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smells lovely, cleans

Disadvantages: None for me

I do like to use some kind of toilet block in my loo, although I use them mainly for the fresh fragrance they offer rather than the cleaning power offered. I am sure that the cleaning element of these blocks exists but I do back this up with the traditional bleach and brush if needed.

The one I am currently using is the Harpic Hygienic Cageless Block which initially appealed to me purely because it was cageless - although the Harpic brand was also a factor in my choice.

I have, in the past, used the blocks which sit inside a plastic cage attached to a bar of plastic so that it sits under the toilet rim. Unfortunately to use this type of block efficiently I bought the refills which meant that when the block had disappeared I needed to retrieve the cage from the toilet, open it and replace the block with a new one. As anyone who has performed this task knows - it is messy and rather unhygienic to say the least!

I spotted an alternative to this unpleasant task when I was shopping in Tesco. The product in question the Harpic Hygienic Cageless Block and it costs £1.96 for a pack containing two of the blocks. The ones I purchased are the citrus fragrance but I understand that they are also available in lavender. Incidentally they are on offer in Tesco until 28th July 2009 to buy two packs for £3.

The two blocks and their supports are attached to a plastic sheet covered by rigid plastic and they are clearly visible so that you can see exactly what you are buying. The writing on the pack offers a product which 'cleans and fragrances for up to 8 weeks'.

On the back of the pack there are details of the various chemicals contained in the product, instructions for use and also safety advice which is the usual stuff such as keeping it out of the reach of children and making sure you don't get any in your eyes. What did make me smile was the bit that advised you to wear eye and face protection when using the product - personally I think that's health and safety gone mad but that's just my opinion!

To use the product all I had to do was cut along the side of the pack, remove one of the blocks and attach it to the rim of the toilet where the water flow was at its maximum, so that when the toilet is flushed, the best benefit is achieved. The block is a solid lemon (or lavender) coloured oval attached to a plastic clip which is bent in such a way as to make it easy to clip it to the rim of the toilet.

As soon as I put the first one into the toilet there was a lovely lemony fragrance in the bathroom which was pleasant but not too strong. Sometimes these products give off such a strong smell it makes my eyes water but not this one - it was just right.

When the toilet is flushed some of the water washes over and round the block distributing the cleaning and fragrancing properties around the bowl. Each flush also renews the citrus fragrance in the bathroom.

As I said earlier I am not convinced that this product would be enough to keep the toilet clean on its own but I do think that it helps and it certainly gives the impression of being fresher.

I checked on the Tesco website to see what the current price of this product is and I noticed that their information says that each block is effective for up to 4 weeks whereas according to the pack that I have it is effective for up to 8 weeks so I don't know whether anything has changed recently.

The bottom line for me is that I like this product and am on my third packet and will continue to buy it until something better hits the market.

Summary: My choice until something better comes along